Kang Kyung-wha and Pompeo Hold Two Consecutive Calls on 21st and 22nd... "Coordinating Minister Kang's Visit to the US"

Close Consultations on the Election of the WTO Secretary-General

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha held two phone calls with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on the 21st and 22nd to discuss cooperation on bilateral issues and global matters, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced.

On the 22nd, the Ministry explained, "Minister Kang, at Secretary Pompeo's invitation, will visit the United States in the near future to hold a Korea-U.S. foreign ministers' meeting and continue strategic communication on issues related to the Korean Peninsula, regional, and global matters."

The two ministers also closely consulted on the selection of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Director-General. The government is requesting support from various countries for Yoo Myung-hee, the Chief Trade Negotiator, who has advanced to the final round of the WTO Director-General selection.

The timing of the visit to the U.S. is being coordinated by both sides. Lee Jae-woong, Deputy Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said at a regular briefing that "Both Korea and the U.S. maintain close and frequent communication at all levels on all issues, and these two calls are good examples of this close relationship," adding, "Minister Kang is scheduled to visit the U.S. at Secretary Pompeo's invitation, and the schedule is being coordinated."

Meanwhile, Secretary Pompeo is scheduled to visit four countries?India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives?from the 25th. South Korea is not included in this tour.